Man-animal conflict is reshaping life in Uttarakhand. The increasing frequency of attacks on humans, cattle and sheep by the Himalayan bears in the mountainous areas of Uttarakhand this year has not only created a problem for the people and the State forest department but has also affected a change in the lifestyle of the local population.
This year, nine people have lost their lives while scores of people have been injured and many cattle have been killed by bears in different parts of the State so far, which has spread fear in the mountainous areas. The bear menace is more acute in the rural areas of the Garhwal division, particularly Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts. In many villages of Chamoli district, the villagers have started accompanying their children to school. The children of the village Syun of Dasholi block of Chamoli have to trek five kilometres to go to their school in nearby Bemru village.
The children walk in groups and carry sticks and whistles with them. They blow whistles on the way to their school and back home to ward off any threat of bear attack. In many schools, the teachers accompany students while coming to school. “As the sighting of bears in the village and nearby areas has increased, we have restricted activities and outdoor games in our school,’’ informed a teacher of a Government school.
Apart from affecting the children, the bear menace has also restricted the activities of the women. They have started avoiding going to fields in the late afternoon and early morning. Sureshi Devi of Eras village of Chamoli said that bears have restricted the movement of villagers, such as working in the fields, fetching water and visiting local markets. “ We are living in a state of fear, we remain worried till the children don’t come back from the schools and ensure that everyone is home before sunset,’’ she said.
The bear menace has also taken a toll on the festivities and the celebrations at the marriages. In view of the threat posed by the wild animals, the villagers are preferring day-long marriages instead of the usual practice of holding the ceremony at night. The popular cocktail parties held on the eve of marriages have lost their sheen, with many avoiding venturing out to attend them. Former Pradhan of Eras village, Darshan Singh Negi, told this correspondent that the late-night parties of booze lovers have been greatly curtailed by lurking threats of bears. “The liquor aficionados have started coming back home early due to prevailing fear. This year, the bear sightings in the area have increased, which has created unprecedented panic,’’ he said.
Vishal Naithani of Pandukeshwar village, located between Joshimath and Badrinath, said that the local markets become deserted in the evenings. He said that many bears, some with children, are roaming in the area, due to which a curfew-like situation is prevailing after sunset. In Joshimath town, the employees of the Forest department warn people on loudspeakers against venturing out at night and throwing leftover food outside their homes in view of the threat posed by the bears.
